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Daily Archives: January 3, 2012

In a press conference to wrap up his team’s 9-4 Pinstripe Bowl championship campaign, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano talks about the goals for the Scarlet Knights moving forward and offers a state-of-program address:

In an emotional press conference to announce his intentions to declare for this April’s NFL Draft, Rutgers junior Mohamed Sanu offers his reasons for skipping his senior season, what his next step will be as a professional, and thanks the people who helped make him a record-breaking wide receiver.

The Rutgers junior wideout announced today he will skip his senior season for the Scarlet Knights and begin preparations for a professional career.

“After speaking to my family and looking at the pros and cons about staying and leaving,” Sanu said, “we feel it is best to declare for the NFL Draft.”

When the NFL Draft begins on April 26, Sanu will hope to become just the fourth first-round pick in Rutgers football history, joining an exclusive club that began when wideout Kenny Britt was selected No. 30 by Tennessee in 2008 and continued when offensive tackle Anthony Davis (No. 11, San Francisco) and cornerback Devin McCourty (No. 27, New England) were picked the following year.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Sanu is projected by several draft analysts as a late first-round or early second-round NFL Draft pick. Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon, who declared for the NFL Draft following the Cowboys’ Fiesta Bowl win over Stanford on Monday night, and Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd are considered locks for the top-15 while Sanu will compete for first-round status with a group that includes South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffrey, Baylor’s Kendall Wright and North Carolina’s Dwight Jones depending on how he performs in pre-draft workouts.

The South Brunswick High product set both the Big East’s and Rutgers’ single-season record for receptions this past year, finishing with 115 catches for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns for the Pinstripe Bowl-champion Scarlet Knights (9-4). In addition to being named to the All-Big East first-team and earning the Maxwell Club’s Tri-State Player of the Year Award, Sanu collected the Homer Hazel Trophy — given to the Most Valuable Player on the Rutgers football team — last month.

Mohamed Sanu turned in one of the most productive offensive seasons in Rutgers football history this past fall. (MyCentralJersey.com file photo)

Mohamed Sanu is set to announce today whether he will return for his senior season or become an early-entry in this April’s NFL Draft. Rutgers’ junior wideout, who will announce his decision during a noon press conference at the Hale Center, has kept mum on his future intentions since the summer, when various websites began listing the 6-2, 215-pounder as a potential first-round pick.

Following the Scarlet Knights’ 27-13 victory over Iowa State in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl last Friday, Sanu said he had yet to decide but hinted that the fans’ chants of “one more year” could influence his choice.

“That meant a lot,” the South Brunswick High School product said. “I love our fans, I love playing for them, and I’m listening to some of the things they had to say.”

Sanu set both the Big East and Rutgers single-season record for receptions this past year, finishing with 115 catches for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns. In addition to being named to the All-Big East first-team and earning the Maxwell Club’s Tri-State Player of the Year Award, Sanu collected the Homer Hazel Trophy — given to the Most Valuable Player on the Rutgers football team — last month.

Head coach Steve Pikiell came up big in landing the playmaking floor general Monday was a hugely important day for the Rutgers men’s basketball program, as point guard of the future, Paul Mulcahy, signed his national letter of intent, making him officially a Scarlet Knight. Mulcahy is rated a 3-star and 4-star prospect, depending on […]